Single-tree



(No Model.)

J. P. McDANIEL.

- SINGLBTREE.

No. 279,410. Patented June 12,1883.

WITNESSES INVENTQR: T gjm/ flflmwQ T M I M 1 ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. MODANIEL, OF LETART, WEST VIRGINIA.

SINGLE-TREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,410, dated June 12, 1883.

I Application filed March 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. MODANIEL, of Letart, in the county of Mason and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and Improved Single-Tree, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention consists of a single-tree for single or double vehicles,provided with swinging or opening trace-hooks, whereby the traces may be quickly detached from the single-tree for detaching the horse or horses from the vehicle, and is more especially intended as a safeguard against breakage of the vehicle and injury to its occupants in case the horse or horses become unmanageable.

The invention also consists of a detachable tongue-clip for the tongues of double vehicles, and of a spring attachment for the holdbacks of the thills of single vehicles, whereby complete detachment of the horse or horses from the vehicle will be effected upon the detachment of the traces from the trace hooks.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I Figure 1 is a perspective view of "my new and improved single-tree arranged for holding the traces. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewillustrating the method of detaching the traces. Figs. 3 and 4 show, respectively, the thill and tongue holdback attachment to be used with my new and improved single-tree.

A represents the wooden portion of my new and improved single-tree, upon the ends of which are fitted the metallic ferrules a. These ferrulesare notched, as shown at b, and have pivoted upon them the steel plates 0, which are formed or provided with the trace-hooks d, and with the downwardly-projecting lips c, that are adapted to fit in the notches b of the ferrules a for holding the plates 0 in line with the length of the single-tree for holding the traces f on the trace-hooks, as shown in Fig. 1. Rising from the spring-plates c are the arms 9, to which the ends of the strap h are attached. To the center of the length of this strap h is attached the strap h, which leads to the foot-brace, or other convenient parts of the body of the vehicle in easy reach of the driver or other occupant of the carriage, so that by drawing upon this strap h the outer ends of the plates 0 will be simultaneously drawn upward, which upward movement will lift the projections 6 out of the slots 12, and

thus permit the plates 0 to swing forward to the position shown in Fig. 2, and thus release the traces f.

are stop-plates attached to the single-tree for preventing the outer ends of the springplates 0 being drawn upward too far.

In front of the holdback-iron j of the thills J, I attach the springs k, which reach up and hear at their outer ends upon the under side of the thills, which springs serve to retain the holdback-straps when the traces are attached to the trace-hooks, but which will permit the holdback-straps to slip off from the thills when the traces are released; and to the tongue K,I attach the two springs Z for holding the neckyoke m, as shown in Fig. 4, which springs will permit the passage of the neck-yoke between them when the traces are detached, thus admitting of the complete detachment of the team from the vehicle when the traces are released.

- Constructed in this manner, it will be seen that the horse or horses may be quickly de tached from the vehicle, and in case the horse or horses become unmanageable the device furnishes a perfect safeguard against runaway accidents. Besides, the device is cheap and practical.

- Other means and neck-yoke may be detached from the thills .or tongue might be devised and not depart from the spirit of my invention; and, instead of the notches b for holding the plates 0 back .in line with the single-tree, pins, projections, or

other means might be devised, and still involve the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination, with a whiffletree, of the metallic ferrules a a, having end notches,b, and the end pivoted springs,c, having hooks dand v lips 6, whereby the trace-holders may be swung inwardly to release the traces, as described.

JOHN F. MGDANIEL.

whereby the l1oldback-straps Witnesses:

A. G. W. BRINKER,

DAN P. GIsT. 

